Adjustable extension table apron



June 1956 J. c. L. VIEHMANN ADJUSTABLE EXTENSION TABLE APRON 2 Sheens-Sheet. 1

Filed Nov. 16, 1954 INVENTOR. John C. L. V/ehmann. BY

June 1956 J- c. VIEHMANN 2,750,242

ADJUSTABLE EXTENSION TABLE APRON Filed NOV. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. John C. L. V/ehmann.

BY I M 774% 4.4% Aiiorneys.

United States Patent ADJUSTABLE EXTENSION TABLE APRON John C. L. Viehmann, Manhasset, N. Y.

Application November 16, 1954, Serial No. 469,197

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-42) This invention relates to extension tables or the like, and more particularly to extension tables having adjustable telescoping aprons.

Ordinary extension tables are designed to be increased in size in order to permit, for example, insertion of table leaves. Greater table area for working or eating is thereby afforded. Many tables of this type include table aprons disposed beneath the separable table top portions for added support of the top portions as well as for ornamentation. When the apron type table is increased in size, however, corresponding breaks appear in the apron on either side of the table equal to the distance the table is extended along its longitudinal axis.

The present invention obviates the interrupted appearance of the table apron portions, and displays instead a continuous table apron forming a complete, substantially unbroken band or flange around the periphery of the table while disposed beneath the separable table top portions. The present invention employs a table apron eonfiguration which is expansible in relation to the size of the table, yet is substantially uninterrupted at any table size. A more attractive, ornamental and functional table results therefrom.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an extension table including a correspondingly adjustable telescoping apron, for convenient use at various preferred table sizes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extension table in which the telescoping members of the table apron act as table slides, thus eliminating the conventional wood or metal slides usually attached to the table top.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extension table with a correspondingly adjustable telescoping apron including a double action drawer situated within said table.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an extension table which is simple in form, easy to use, yet strong and durable.

A further object of this invention is to provide an extension table which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the description which follows, and the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the extension table in closed position with the table top shown in dotted outline, and the legs partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a side view of a section of the table apron showing the adjustable portion in partially extended position;

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the table apron in partially extended position with the table top removed;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the table apron, taken at 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the invention including a double action drawer, with the table apron in extended position.

Figure 6 is a side view of a section of this modified table apron in extended position, taken along 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top perspective view of a further modification of a table apron shown in partially extended position.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along 8-8 of Figure 7 showing a modified form of crosssectional configuration for the telescoping tubes.

The present invention comprises an extension table having two top portions A and A, an adjustable table apron 1, and table legs B supporting the table by means of ribs 4 as shown in Figure 1. Top portions A and A are secured to ribs 4 by suitable means. The table apron 1 contains sets of apron tubes 2 which are secured to one another in stacked arrangement, bracket arms 3 attached to the tubes 2 to receive and support the table top portions A and A respectively, and floating tubes 5 which have an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of apron tubes 2. The latter tubes 2 are virtually yokeor U-shaped when seen from above or below, and are provided in two opposed groups. Floating tubes 5 are slidably received within the hollow legs or limbs of the two groups or sets of yokeor U-shaped tubes 2 permitting adjustment of the tubular apron size as slidable floating tubes or telescoping links 5 vary their telescoping relation with yokeor U-shaped tubes 2. In this way, the telescoping tubes of the table apron act as table slides as well, so that there is no need for conventional table slides. The limits of extension of table apron 1, as well as of the table itself, are defined by stops 6 medially mounted in floating tubes 5 and arranged within medial longitudinal slots 7 of tubes 2 located in the proximity of the ends of the legs or limbs of tubes 2. When the table is in its closed position, the ends of the limbs of the U-shaped apron tubes 2 abut the corresponding ends of the limbs of the opposite set of U-shaped apron tubes 2.

In Figure 5, a modification of the table apron is shown, including a double action drawer 8, i. e. a drawer which may be opened from either side of the table, slidably mounted within parallel channel members 9 which in turn are slidably positioned on table apron 1' by means of floating extensions 5 which are disposed in telescoping arrangement with yokeor U-shaped tubes 2' as shown in Figure 6. Channel members 9 are fixedly spaced apart by brackets 10 connecting the respective ends of channel members 9 at either side of table apron 1. In this modification, the top apron tubes 2' extend farther than the lower tubes 2', forming projections 2a at the ends of the limbs of top tubes 2, so that when table apron 1 is closed, the respective ends of top tubes 2' meet at projections 2a. Floating or telescoping members or link members 11 shown in Figure 5 are of the same diameter as floating extensions 5, allowing slidable positioning of members 11 within projections 2a which have a diameter equal to that of tubes 2', thus maintaining sturdy support of table apron 1 along the distance of members 11 at either the extended or closed position of table apron 1. Extension limits of table apron 1' in this modification are similarly defined by stops 6' on floating members 11 in arrangement with longitudinal slots 7' situated medially in projections 2a. Floating extensions 5', in the modified table apron 1, shown in Figure 5, are connected to channel members 9 at one of their ends and are freely disposed within tubes 2' at their other ends to allow telescoping of floating extensions 5' within tubes 2' for added support of table apron 1'.

Figure 7 shows a further modification of the present invention. The double action drawer 22 which may be opened from either side of the table is included in this embodiment as well as a table apron having polysided U- shaped or yoke-shaped tubes 23. Polysided floating extensions or slidable telescoping links 24 are attached to channel members 25 at their respective ends, and are freely disposed within the legs or limbs of polysided tubes 23, the'extensions 24 being of slightly smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the cross-sectional dimensions of polysided tube 23, as shown in Figure 8. Channel members 25 are fixedly spaced apart by brackets 26 connecting the respective ends of channel members 25 at either side of table apron 21. The limits of extension of table apron 21 are similarly determined by stops 27 on extensions 24 in arrangement with medial longitudinal slots 28 in tubes 23.

In this form of the invention, the yoke-shaped polysided or square tube 23 at each end is merely a single element instead of the composite or multiple group formed of yokeor U-shaped tubes 2 or 2 at each end in the previously described forms of Figures 1 to 6. Of course, for certain purposes, the drawer and the channel means for accommodating it may be omitted from the form shown in Figure 7, if desired. The main principles of the invention remain the same in any case in all forms.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but whatl desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable extension table apron of the character described, including a pair of apron tubes having their ends thereof relatively opposed and normally in closed position abutting each other, slidable telescoping links or floating extensions projecting into the opposed ends and interconnecting the apron tube on one side With the opposite apron tube upon the other side, one apron tube upon one side and the correspondingly opposite apron tube on the other side together with the slidable telescoping links or floating extensions inter-connecting the two apron tubes forming a substantially continuous unbroken but extensible unit, and means associated with the apron tubes for limiting the extension of the extensible unit to predetermined length for the unit as a whole.

2. An adjustable extension table apron according to claim 1, wherein the opposed tubes have longitudinal slots and the slidable telescoping links have stops projecting outwardly into the longitudinal slots of said tubes and allow the apron tube upon one side to be extended away from the apron tube on the other side With the telescoping links between until the stops reach the ends of said longitudinal slots in said tubes.

3. An adjustable extension table apron according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of U-shaped apron tubes are superposed upon each side to form two opposed groups of apron tubes, and wherein all of said apron tubes have distinct telescoping links extending slidably therein and interconnecting all of the apron tubes of one group and the apron tubes of the other group.

4. An adjustable extension table apron according to claim 2, wherein the apron tubes are U-shaped and rounded at the corners and continuous, and the inward sides of the apron tubes have bracket arms for attaching table top sections to said apron tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,509 Klein Apr. 10, 1898 785,571 Raines et al Mar. 21, 1905 802,998 Lambert Oct. 31, 1905 853,474 Rockefeller May 14, 1907 949,119 Gruender Feb. 15, 1910 1,692,618 Bowers Nov. 20, 1928 2,533,119 Kelly Dec. 5, 1950 2,546,676 North Mar. 27, 1951 2,628,147 Berner Feb. 10, 1953 2,676,863 Cooper Apr. 27, 1954 2,695,831 Sigal Nov. 30, 1954 

